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Ridgewood Blasts Newsome To Win Hulton Classic

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By RICK HARMON

Tribune correspondent

Published: January 1, 2009

NEW PORT RICHEY - For the 10th time in the 20-year history of the William G. Hulton Jr. Ram Classic, Ridgewood advanced to the finals of its own tournament.

But only twice (1998, 2005) had the Rams come away with the championship plaque.

Ridgewood (13-2) added a third title as four Rams scored in double-figures in a 69-33 win against Newsome.

The Rams dominated the Wolves (7-3) from the opening tip. Ridgewood never trailed in the game and the score was only tied once – 2-2. But Rams coach Gary Anders still chose to his players an earful at halftime, despite leading 32-21.

"I got on them a little bit at halftime," Anders said. "That layup at the end of the half didn't make me very happy."

The basket Anders was talking about was by Newsome's Samal Shepherd with seconds remaining in the half. Whatever Anders said worked. Newsome cut the Rams lead to 9 with 5:26 remaining in the third quarter but Ridgewood went on a 18-4 run to increase its lead to 52-29 after third quarters.

"We came out and played really good defense," Anders said. "We got the ball inside and that opened up the shots outside. They are playing pretty smart right now and I'm real happy with them."

The Rams continued to pour it on in the fourth quarter, holding Newsome to only two field goals in the final 8 minutes. When Lukas Poderis slammed the ball through with 2:23 remaining, the Rams had a 67-31 lead and the game ended with a running clock. Ridgewood outscored Newsome 37-12 in the second half.

"I just thought we just didn't come ready to play," said Newsome coach Jon Mackey. "I thought we looked tired in the first half. I didn't think we played together very well. And the second half got worse."

Senior guard Alvin Satram led all scorers with 16 points while Bryan Jones and Poderis had 12 and Charles Jones added 11. Charles Murphy led the Wolves with 10.

Satram, Poderis and Bryan Jones were named to the all-tournament team, along with Freedom's Brendon Bertorello, Land O' Lakes' Kevin Burnell, Newsome's Shepherd and Murphy, Palm Harbor University's Tyler Stevenson and St. Petersburg Catholic's Anthony Miles and Matt O'Donnell.

In other games Wednesday, St. Petersburg Catholic defeated Freedom 63-59 to win the third-place game. In the fifth-place game, Land O' Lakes defeated Zephyrhills 71-44 and Palm Harbor University took seventh place with a 66-56 win against Wesley Chapel.

NEWSOME (33) – Mackey 1 0-0 3, Gist 3 0-2 6, Hodges 3 0-0 6, Shepherd 2 2-2 6, Murphy 4 2-5 10, Dowd 1 0-0 2. Totals 14 4-11 33.
RIDGEWOOD (69) – Vazquez 2 0-0 5, C. Jones 4 2-2 11, Satram 5 4-7 16, B. Jones 6 0-0 12, Rauh 3 0-0 9, Hanzic 1 0-0 2, Poderis 6 0-2 12, Reardon 1 0-0 2. Totals 28 6-11 69.

Newsome 8 13 8 4 – 33
Ridgewood 15 17 20 17 – 69

3-point goals – Mackey (N), Rauh 3, Satram 2, Vazquez, C. Jones. Total fouls – Newsome 11, Ridgewood 10. Fouled out – Gist (N). Technical foul – Shepherd. Records – N 7-3, R 13-2.

Correspondent Rick Harmon can be reached at tampabaystringer@gmail.com

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